After getting a dynamic defender in Asante Samuel Jr., the Chargers turned their attention back to the offensive side of the ball where they felt like it was only right to get a piece for quarterback Justin Herbert.
Los Angeles picked former Tennessee wide receiver Josh Palmer with the No. 77 overall selection.
When you look at his stat sheet from college, it’s easy to be swayed away from the pick as he failed to surpass 34 targets and 500 yards. But the reality is that the numbers don’t do the justice to reflect the type of player Palmer really is and can be at the next level.
Palmer, the Canada native, never produced eye-popping production at Tennessee due to playing alongside Marquez Callaway (Saints) and Jauan Jennings (49ers) for two seasons and the team’s ongoing quarterback problems.
Palmer, the 6-foot-1 and 210 pounder, ran mostly vertical routes in the Vol’s offense and rarely got targeted because of it.
But when he was targeted, he made the most of his opportunities, showing up against some elite cornerback prospects, including Patrick Surtain II and Tyson Campbell.
WR Josh Palmer only had 475 yds / 4 TDS this year but two of them were long catches over Patrick Surtain II and Tyson Campbell 👀 pic.twitter.com/SW4rWFBx77
— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) April 3, 2021
With adequate play at the quarterback position, Palmer opened some eyes at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. He defeated defenders with violent route-running and the speed to create separation as well as the sticky hands to catch everything thrown his way.
His 81% win rate was the highest of any outside receiver at the Senior Bowl one-on-ones, according to Pro Football Focus.
Josh Palmer is showing out at the Senior Bowl. pic.twitter.com/TdTW50zFAp
— More Important Issues (@More_Issues) January 28, 2021
His performance in Mobile, AL helped boost his draft stock, and the Bolts saw a physical pass-catcher who possessed the long speed, route-running chops, play strength and ball skills, profiling as a high-upside wideout with big-play capabilities.
Now on a team with a competent quarterback, Palmer should easily be more productive in the NFL than he was in college.
